While it is known primarily for the glitz and glamour of the famous strip, Las Vegas is also a vibrant and fully functional city, full of people like any other in the US. And like any other city, Las Vegas is full of students in search of the right high school to support them, and to help them succeed on the path to college. Of course, what makes a high school a good fit for a student varies greatly from student to student; a school which is an amazing opportunity for one student may not fit another at all. In this article, then, we’re going to go through some of the best high schools in Las Vegas, both public and private, to showcase what each offers to students. Our goal is to help you understand and evaluate your choices, so you know which of these schools may best fit your own needs. Let’s jump right in!
The Best Private High Schools in Las Vegas
We’re going to start by looking at some private high schools, and seeing what they have to offer students. Some of these are located in Las Vegas proper, while others are in surrounding communities.
Located in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas, Meadows is a private, secular, coed, day school serving students in grades pre-K through 12. They enroll approximately 950 students, and have a student:teacher ratio of 11:1. It is regularly ranked as the best high school in Nevada, and on average 100% of graduates are accepted to college or university.
Meadows is proud of its challenging curriculum, and is quite well known for it. They offer 26 AP courses; in addition to this they offer a significant number of advanced courses which are meant to mimic the work and material students will find in college; these are offered in all core academic subject areas. Note that among these are research courses, where students pursue independent research projects under faculty guidance. These courses are only available to upper level students, but are a great opportunity. The average SAT score at meadows is 1410, and the average ACT score is 31.
Tuition at Meadows is $34,840 annually, though this varies by grade. There is some need-based financial aid available. In order to apply, you must first submit an online inquiry; once this is done you will be able to access the application. This is done online, and requires a questionnaire, a photo of the student, a birth certificate of the student, a school report, SSAT scores (for students applying to enter grades 9 or 10), and an interview. Applications open in September, and are due in February.
This is a private, Jewish, coed, day school in the Summerlin neighborhood of Las Vegas. The school enrolls approximately 625 students, and has a student:teacher ratio of 6:1. Note that Adelson is a Jewish school; while you do not need to be Jewish to apply or attend, the religion and its values are an integral part of the school’s culture, curriculum, and community. You must be aware of and ok with that when you apply, or this is not the right school for you. Approximately two thirds of the student body is Jewish.
Adelson offers an advanced college-prep curriculum. Note that the graduation requirements include four years of Judaic studies. Beginning in the 2025 school year, all freshmen and sophomores will be required to take Hebrew as their foreign language. The school offers 18 AP courses, and a number of other honors courses. They also offer optional focus areas; these are in business, biomedical sciences, technology, and law. The average SAT score at the school is 1290, and the average ACT is 28.
Tuition at Adelson is $31,200; there is some need-based aid available. The application to Adelson must be completed online; the application requires the online form, a tour of the school, a copy of the student’s birth certificate or passport, three letters of recommendation (English and math teachers, and an administrator), the last two years of academic transcripts, standardized test results, schedule an entrance assessment, and complete a shadow day.
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This is a private, Catholic, coed, day school in Las Vegas. It serves students in grades 9-12, with an enrollment of approximately 1,535 and a student:teacher ratio of 20:1. Note that this is a Roman Catholic school, and the religion is a core part of the student experience. You do not need to be Catholic to apply or attend, but if you are not looking for an education informed by Catholic belief, then this may not be the right school for you. We should also note that Gorman has a very strong athletics program, one of the best in the state of Nevada.
Bishop Gorman offers an advanced, college preparatory curriculum, including a full suite of AP and honors courses. Students may take a maximum of six AP courses per year; you are required to take the AP exam if you take an AP course. Freshmen and sophomore students may take Scholars courses; these are honors courses of their own devising, which are meant to be more advanced than regular honors coursework, and prepare students for APs. Note that you are required to take four years of Theology courses in order to graduate. 60 hours of community service is also required for graduation. The average SAT score at Gorman is 1260, and the average ACT is 27.
Tuition at Gorman is $16,200 annually; there is a discount for Catholic parishioners. There is some need-based aid available, this is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. You must apply to Gorman online; note that you need a minimum middle school GPA of 2.0 to apply. The application requires the online form, transcripts for your entire time in middle school (up to now), your birth certificate, letters of recommendation from a counselor and Math teacher, the High School Placement Test, and an optional campus tour.
The Best Public High Schools in Las Vegas
In addition to some excellent private schools, Las Vegas boasts a number of quite excellent public high schools. Some of these are magnet schools, and for these we will detail admissions requirements and the selection process they use.
Commonly referred to as A-Tech, the Advanced Technologies Academy is regularly recognized as the best public high school in Nevada, and one of the top performing schools nationally. This is a magnet high school, and is part of the Clark County School District. It is located in Vegas. It enrolls approximately 1,195 students, and has a student:teacher ratio of 22:1.
Students at A-Tech enroll in one of eight programs; these are: architecture, business, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, graphic design, biomedical, and IT networking. You take core academic classes, plus a sequence of courses which correspond to your specific program, one per year. These offer high level insight into these topics, with the goal of preparing you for either college or a career. A-Tech offers 29 AP courses, and 10 dual enrollment courses, plus a full suite of honors coursework. The average SAT score is 1260, and the average ACT is 23.
The school’s magnet program has two steps to enrollment. First, you need to qualify for the particular track you are applying to; the business and graphic design tracks have no prerequisites. The other tracks are referred to as the STEM tracks, and all share the same prerequisites. These are that you must have taken math through pre-Algebra or above in 8th grade, and hit certain GPA and grade metrics in math, science, and English. If you meet these requirements, you can enter the enrollment lottery; all students are selected through this. Note that A-Tech does not offer any sports; students may participate in athletics through their zoned high school.
West Career and Technical Academy
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Generally referred to as WCTA, this is a public magnet school located in Las Vegas, in the Summerlin neighborhood. It enrolls approximately 1,510 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 25:1. The school is part of Clark County School District, and any student from the district may attend.
Students at the school choose one of nine programs to participate in; they take a course each year as part of these programs, with the idea that this prepares them either for higher education, or to directly enter a career related to this field. In addition to this, students take the standard core of academic coursework; these specializations are over and on top of that. You must choose a specialization when you enter the school; you can change no later than the start of sophomore year. They offer 24 AP courses, and a full suite of dual enrollment and honors coursework as well. The average SAT score is 1280, and the average ACT score is 27.
Admission to WCTA is done based on a lottery. You must meet certain GPA and grade minimums to qualify for this lottery. Approximately 3,000 students enter the lottery each year. You must choose which of the special programs you wish to take part in when you enter the lottery.
Northwest Career and Technical Academy
Generally called NWCTA, this is a public magnet school in Las Vegas, overseen by the Clark County School District. Like many of the other magnet schools in Las Vegas, the point of this school is to provide technical and career training to students, to enable them to have a leg up in college, or to enter the workforce directly. The school enrolls approximately 1,925 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 23:1.
NWCTA offers eight specialization areas; you must select one when you enroll in the school. These require you to take a set of courses, these include a significant amount of hands-on and project-based learning. They offer 22 AP courses, along with a suite of honors coursework. That said, some of the programs are very much intended for students interested in college, while others are true career preparation programs. The average SAT score is 1170, and the average ACT is 24.
Admission to the school is by lottery. There are some GPA and grade requirements to qualify for this lottery. You must choose which of the eight programs you want to be part of when you apply. If you apply to multiple magnet high schools, then once you accept a seat at one, your applications to the other schools are automatically withdrawn. Applications to this school may be done online.
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Generally referred to as LVA, this is a magnet high school located in downtown Las Vegas, and is dedicated to the arts (as the name suggests). Students at the school choose one area of arts to focus on: dance, music, theatre, and visual arts. The school enrolls approximately 1,740 students, with a student:teacher ratio of 22:1. They are generally regarded as one of the best schools for the arts nationally.
LVA requires all students to take a standard academic core of courses, and actively prepares students for higher education. They offer 25 AP courses, and a full suite of dual enrollment and honors courses. Students are not required to take these, but many choose to. In addition to this, students take courses in their area of focus. You are admitted to one area, and may not change it. In addition to courses, there are multiple performances or display opportunities throughout the year for students; these are a core part of what the school does, and are considered an integral part of artistic training. The average SAT score at LVA is 1160, and the average ACT is 21.
As a public magnet high school, any student in the Clark County School District may apply for admissions. Admissions has two parts; first you must apply online through the district website. This is to determine eligibility, once this is done, you will be invited to audition. You may audition for up to two majors, though you may only choose one if admitted to both. Admissions is determined entirely by audition, and this is a competitive process. Note that LVA does not have an athletics program; students may participate in sports at their zoned high school.
Final Thoughts
Las Vegas is an oasis in the desert, and so most of the great Las Vegas-area schools are within the city itself; which is a rarity for large metro areas in the US, but great news for those living in Las Vegas. The variety of excellent public and private schools alike give parents plenty of options. We hope that this article has introduced you to some of those options, and given you insight into which may be the best for your circumstances.
Of course, one of the problems with having a lot of great choices is determining which exactly is best for you. After all, each student is unique, and what works well for one may not be the right fit for another. That’s where Ivy Scholars can help. We have a long history of helping students find the right school to support their exact needs, and making sure their transition to high school is a smooth one. If you want to hear more about how we can help you with your educational journey, or to ask about your own situation, schedule a free consultation today. We have a long history of helping students make the most of their education, and are always happy to hear from you.
